Facts about Nigeria

British
influence and control over what would become Nigeria grew through the 19th
century. A series of constitutions after World War II granted Nigeria greater
autonomy; independence came in 1960. Following nearly 16 years of military rule,
a new constitution was adopted in 1999, and a peaceful transition to civilian
government was completed. The government continues to face the daunting task of
reforming a petroleum-based economy, whose revenues have been squandered through
corruption and mismanagement, and institutionalizing democracy. In addition,
Nigeria continues to experience longstanding ethnic and religious tensions.
Although both the 2003 and 2007 presidential elections were marred by
significant irregularities and violence, Nigeria is currently experiencing its
longest period of civilian rule since independence. The general elections of
April 2007 marked the first civilian-to-civilian transfer of power in the
country's history.

Geography of Nigeria

Location:

Western Africa, bordering
the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon

Nigeria, which is Africa's most populous
country, is composed of more than 250 ethnic groups; the following are the most populous
and politically influential: Hausa and Fulani 29%, Yoruba 21%, Igbo (Ibo) 18%, Ijaw 10%,
Kanuri 4%, Ibibio 3.5%, Tiv 2.5%

Religions:

Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous
beliefs 10%

Languages:

English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo
(Ibo), Fulani

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 68%
male: 75.7%
female: 60.6%

Government

Country name:

conventional long form: Federal
Republic of Nigeria

Government type:

republic transitioning from military to
civilian rule

Capital:

Abuja; note - on 12 December 1991 the
capital was officially transferred from Lagos to Abuja; most federal government offices
have now made the move to Abuja

based on English common law, Islamic
Shariah law (only in some northern states), and traditional law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Umaru Musa YAR'ADUA
(since 29 May 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Umaru Musa YAR'ADUA (since 29 May 2007)
cabinet: Federal Executive Council
elections: president is elected by popular vote for a four-year term (eligible
for a second term).

Legislative branch:

bicameral National Assembly consists of Senate (109 seats
- 3 from each state plus 1 from Abuja, members elected by popular vote to serve four-year
terms) and House of Representatives (360 seats, members elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges appointed by the
President); Federal Court of Appeal (judges are appointed by the federal government on the
advice of the Advisory Judicial Committee)

Economy

Oil-rich Nigeria, long hobbled by political instability, corruption,
inadequate infrastructure, and poor macroeconomic management, is undertaking
some reforms under a new reform-minded administration. Nigeria's former
military rulers failed to diversify the economy away from its overdependence
on the capital-intensive oil sector, which provides 20% of GDP, 95% of foreign
exchange earnings, and about 80% of budgetary revenues. The largely
subsistence agricultural sector has failed to keep up with rapid population
growth - Nigeria is Africa's most populous country - and the country, once a
large net exporter of food, now must import food. Following the signing of an
IMF stand-by agreement in August 2000, Nigeria received a debt-restructuring
deal from the Paris Club and a $1 billion credit from the IMF, both contingent
on economic reforms. Nigeria pulled out of its IMF program in April 2002,
after failing to meet spending and exchange rate targets, making it ineligible
for additional debt forgiveness from the Paris Club. In the last year the
government has begun showing the political will to implement the
market-oriented reforms urged by the IMF, such as to modernize the banking
system, to curb inflation by blocking excessive wage demands, and to resolve
regional disputes over the distribution of earnings from the oil industry. In
2003, the government began deregulating fuel prices, announced the
privatization of the country's four oil refineries, and instituted the
National Economic Empowerment Development Strategy, a domestically designed
and run program modeled on the IMF's Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility for
fiscal and monetary management. In November 2005, Abuja won Paris Club
approval for a debt-relief deal that eliminated $18 billion of debt in
exchange for $12 billion in payments - a total package worth $30 billion of
Nigeria's total $37 billion external debt. The deal requires Nigeria to be
subject to stringent IMF reviews. GDP rose strongly in 2007, based largely on
increased oil exports and high global crude prices. Newly-elected President
YAR'ADUA has pledged to continue the economic reforms of his predecessor and
the proposed budget for 2008 reflects the administrations emphasis on
infrastructure improvements. Infrastructure is the main impediment to growth.
The government is working toward developing stronger public-private
partnerships for electricity and roads.